Sachin

You already know that you need tools and equipment for your kitchen. A kitchen isn’t complete without these necessities, such as knives, pots and pans, and others.

And while we pride ourselves in outfitting our kitchen with all the latest advanced gadgets around, we can’t deny the fact that there are a few basic tools which we need more than others. This includes good knives.

A good knife or two is essential, whether you cook regularly or not. For those of us who enjoy preparing meals for ourselves and our families, a high quality knife is a must-have.

So if you have invested in a good knife, then you must also make sure that you take proper care of it. Proper knife care allows you to use your knife for a very long time.


When cutting

The first aspect of proper knife care comes when we actually use our knives. This being said, always use a proper chopping board and never cut on stone, tile, cement, or glass.

There are several types of chopping boards and the most common are those made from wood or plastic. It’s simple: invest in a good chopping board, and you will not run the risk of dulling or even destroying your knives.

Honing or straightening your knives

It’s important to remember that honing or straightening is actually different from sharpening. Honing should be done regularly – in fact, it should be done every time you use the knife.

You can do this with a special metal pole, also called a sharpening steel (hence the confusion between the definition of honing vs. sharpening).


Chef knives must be stored properly for a longer life span

The thing is, a knife’s cutting edge, which is very thin, can sometimes curl in. This is why honing should be done every time you use the knife so the cutting edge will remain straight.

Sharpening your knives

You can sharpen your knife with certain tools such as a sharpening stone. While it’s not required to sharpen your knives regularly (it’s actually advised to sharpen your knives only every month or so as it might wear down), it is still necessary.

When using a sharpening stone, make sure the blade of the knife is at a 20o angle against the stone. Move the cutting edge across the stone from heel to tip. Do the same on the other side of the blade.

If you use your knife every day, then you might want to sharpen it more often. You can also choose to have your knives sharpened by a professional.

Washing and storing your knives

Always wash your knives by hand with warm soapy water, and never in the dishwasher. This is because the dishwasher can easily dull or even damage the knife’s blade.

When you store your knives, make sure they are stored properly in a knife block or roll. Avoid storing your knives in a drawer as the blades might scrape against each other. Besides, storing them in a drawer is dangerous for you as well.

Whether you have a whole range of chef knives or only one all-purpose knife, it is important to take proper care of them. With proper knife care, you can definitely maximize your knives and have an easier slicing, cutting, dicing, or mincing time in the kitchen.